July 16 - Sorry for the silence; it's been far more interesting to watch and read the news these days than to comment on it. Nevertheless, some things must be said.
Israel has the right to defend herself. Israel has an obligation to defend herself, her people, and her soldiers. Period.
The appropriateness of the term "axis of evil" has become increasing apparent these past weeks as has the uselessness of the U.N.
It is a better scenario in that region without Saddam than it might be with him. Remember that interrupted shipment of Scud missles from North Korea to Iraq? And the ease with which his weapons programs could be re-started?
It shouldn't need to be said that those calling for "calm" in the Mid-east are ignoring the fundamental fact that the destruction of Hezbollah would achieve calm far more effectively than standing down and allowing them to rebuild their arsenals and bases of operation in readiness for the next assault.
It shouldn't need to be said that the destruction of Hezbollah would at long last achieve justice for the 241 U.S. servicemen who died in 1983 when the Marine Barracks in Beirut was bombed. Those who think that was a long time ago and we should forget about it may not have noticed the roar accompanying the 2003 capture of the Abu Abbas who planned the assault on the Achille Lauro and the murder of one man - Leon Klinghoffer - because we.don't.forget.
It shouldn't need to be said that countries that harbour terrorists are legitimate targets. It shouldn't need to be said that those who live near rocket launchers or Hezbollah offices should move. It shouldn't need to be said that the callous manner in which Hezbollah and other terror organizations have placed those civilians in danger is the issue, and however regrettable it may be that they are being used as human shields their presence cannot serve to protect Hezbollah from justice.
There is a huge difference between peace and proxy wars. It's long been recognized that the material support by Syria and Iran for the insurgency in Iraq has been a proxy war, and now those countries have been forced out of the shadows by their stamp on the weapons that have been used on Israel.
It is tempting to apply the philosophies and stratgies from the Cold War to today's events, but that overlooks a fundamental difference: Israel's enemies (and ours) brazenly proclaim their intention to commit genocide. No stalemate much less detente is possible under such circumstances.
Those that fear that the U.S. military is somewhat handicapped by the presence of large numbers of U.S. troops in Iraq might also reflect as to the extent to which those troops act as an effective deterrent to Syria and Iran. Syria may threaten and Iran may bluster but the steadfast support of U.S. officials for Israel's right to defend herself forces those countries to limit a more active involvement in Lebanon. Two words: air power. It is unlikely that we will see troop movements in Syria or Iran to escalate this war.
Lastly, it shouldn't need to be said that Israel is fighting a war which we must not only support but acknowledge to be in our interests as well as in the interests of all who truly seek a peaceful solution in the Mid-east. I only wish we were doing more to support them (even though I understand why our support is limited to words) but I pray that, should events force our hand, we stand up and do the right thing by our best ally in that region.
Posted by: Jack at July 16, 2006 09:36 AM (GwYzn)
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Good idea to harken back as far as 1983 and the 241 US Marines
who were killed in that barracks bomb blast then.
I think the French lost some men back then as well. To avoid escalation everyone just pulled out or faded away at the time.
That can not happen this time. Problems are better solved when they are small. It*s a pity that justice was not done in 1983.
Is 1983 about 23 years ago? Could 23 years of Lebanon / Israeli conflict have been avoided if things had been solved in 1983?
Blunt facts are uncomfortable and awkward but hitting Lebanon is hitting off target.
Hitting the commander of Hezlbollah is required and that in Ahmadinejad *Almondjeans* in Tehran, not Naswrala la la in Lebanon. TG
Posted by: TonyGuitar at July 16, 2006 11:04 AM (2GVBQ)
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Artic_Front said...
It would be de-cried by the entire world, and might be a bit over the top, BUT, a few cruise missles lobed into the homes, offices and parliament buildings of both Iran and Syria to cull the nut-jobs, completely de-stabilize the balance of power, and give those folks in both countries who long for real freedom a chance to take back their nations from the radical element.
And I agree. Israel is missing the target. The target is the commander of Hezbollah. That is Ahamadinejad in Tehran, not Ratwala in Lebanon.
The electric car would cut out Iran*s oil wealth advantage. The EV-1 is here but GM is trying to bury it. 800 lease drivers loved it but GM took them all back and crunched them. Google- TheHuffingtonPost
= TG
Posted by: TonyGuitar at July 16, 2006 12:19 PM (2GVBQ)
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I agree with the gist of your remarks, Deb, but I am not comfortable with Israel bombing Beirut and basically punishing Lebanese civilians knowing that the Lebanese government doesn't have the muscle to push out the millions of Israel's enemies that occupy the border regions.
Israel is well aware of the Lebanese reality. Her enemies in Lebanon are the Syrians and the Hezbollah, not Lebanese civilians.
Israel is expending a lot of good will and moral high ground in taking the easy way out. Military force, which she is entitled to use, should be directed at her enemies, not the helpless Lebanese who can't strike back at Israel (nor wish to war with) or her enemies.
Attack Syrian forces, attack Iranian forces, attack the Hezbollah forces in South Lebanon. Attack Hamas. Leave the bombing of Lebanese cities, infrastructure and government to the usual monsters and stop emulating them.
With that said, I hope Israel corrects her course and crushes her enemies. If Syria or Iran want to wage a larger war with Israel, then the US forces will be ready to "infect" another ME dictatorship with a taste of fledging democracy.
Posted by: mikem at July 17, 2006 12:05 AM (EzNXf)
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Mikem, You said that very well and my feelings are exactly as your own. TG
Posted by: TonyGuitar at July 17, 2006 02:43 AM (2GVBQ)
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Again I say, when reduced to the core issue, we have a binary decision: Israel has a right to exist, or not. There is no nuance. It is that simple.
Oil revenues have been transformed into arms by the side that says no. Apologists deny the core issue, rationalize that denial in order to participate in the oil-driven financial bonanza. It's getting more difficult to practice that denial.
If one decides that Israel has the right to exist, then one cannot deny Israel its right to defend itself against armed organizations that have publicly vowed to destroy her. While I am dismayed at the bombing in Lebanon, I am also outraged that Iran and Syria choose the cowardly method of imbedding their proxies amongst civilians. Clever, but cowardly. If Israel is to crush Hezbollah, the blood of Lebanese citizens is on the hands of Iran and Syria. Not that they care. The evidence is, despite what the Koran says, human life is cheap in fundamenalist Islam.
Enough words have been minced over this issue.
It is my belief that should the nation of Israel be defeated, what will surely follow will be an ethnic cleansing of the region. I believe this based on the lessons of history, and what my parents learned during the years they lived in Saudi Arabia.
For those that decide that Israel does not have the right to exist, they must contemplate the aftermath, and choose according to their conscience.
The real price we pay for our oil is that we have become powerless to expunge the poison that has spread through Islam.
Posted by: Shaken at July 18, 2006 08:27 AM (JyC7p)
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Perfect . . . . excellent piece
Mikem . . with the North American power grid working at 100% + capacity in this summer's heat wave, aren't you glad you don't have an electic car
Posted by: Fred at July 18, 2006 04:50 PM (F3gAV)
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But Fred. Central power generation is always a thousand percent cleaner than millions of independant combustion engines...
Stationery hydrogen power plants are far cleaner and safer than millions of mobile hydrogen power systems.
Elementary Watson..er, Fred. TG
Posted by: TonyGuitar at July 18, 2006 06:49 PM (2GVBQ)
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Finally got a photo of the not so phantom EV-1 electric car by GM.
http://TonyGuitar.blogspot.com
= TG
Posted by: TonyGuitar at July 19, 2006 02:16 AM (2GVBQ)
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Great comments.
Mikem rightly questions the destruction and loss of civilian life in Beirut. The reports I'm hearing are that most of the bombs are targeting the Hezbollah/Shiite sector; that's an odd concept for us Westerners as we don't have Christian, Muslim, Hindu or Jewish neighbourhoods but tend to live side-by-side, but we also heard about car bombs going off in Christian neighbourhoods during the Cedar Revolution so for now I'm willing to go on a bit of faith.
I still assign the larger blame to Hezbollah, though, for storing munitions and locating their offices in residential neighbourhoods.
Posted by: Debbye at July 20, 2006 02:31 PM (oKnnf)
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Debbye, go back to America, we don't like your radical American attitude "Conquer At Any Price". Your REDNECK mentality just doesn't fit in here..........
PS Remember Goliath thought he would win by being bigger and stronger...and we all know what happened to him.
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